[Reader-list] my view on cellular silent day on 30/01/09 by Ranjan Kamath

[bipin]

Dear Rakesh,

Sorry for the late reply.



You are right, since independence, we talk about development. But, as mentioned earlier in my analysis, the real infrastructural development started in 2000 only and still it is going on at least in Gujarat, since UPA govt. has slow down this process. They have diverted infrastructural fund in few useless schemes like Compulsary Rojgar Scheme. I am sure this scheme's 60/70% fund is wasted by way of corruption. Such chip scheme is again to make show to gather vote only. This is not the way to root development. By such scheme you are making people lazy. They get assurance to get work (may be 100 days in year) from govt. and did not try their own will to do something. I read somewhere that such scheme implementation, Gujarat is way back than many states. Actually, I am happy that by not encouraging such scheme Gujarat will benefit in long run.

 

Still Gujarat might be lagging in some criteria for example education. But, compared to previous years, things improving in the fast pace. Recently, in CA final toppers were 2 Gujarati's. In IAS exams Gujarati's participation increasing day by day. Gujarati's are grossly poor in English. For that at college level, govt. tried compulsory English medium at college in the year 2005, but due to stiff opposition from students could not implement it. Such factors are to be counted also. As mentioned earlier, we can not blame govt. for everything, public attitude also responsible.

 

"Charity begins from home" you must have heard this sentence. The same is applicable for health factors also. To maintain health, all the individuals, family, streets must take care for their water, cleanliness, food habit. Government can provide first/second level filtered/chlorinated water to public, but than individual has to take care of own. Infrastructural development also includes improvement of Municipal Hospitals. This is also going on in fast pace and even today they are working better today than in the past.

 

Nano car has got international attention and by getting this project (may be even after giving few more subsidies) Gujarat has got eye catchy international attention for the better investment destination. By this way, foreign investment will be possible in big way where Gujarat was comparatively leg behind and you have saw result in recent business summit where foreign country participation was very large including many Islamic countries.

 

With the Development of ports, fishing activity has very little impact. Since with 1600 km long coast, hardly 10% coastal land area will be utilized for various ports. With the development of port export of Gujarat local industries will have boost and will be cheaper. This will benefit to overall industrial growth.

 

For overall growth, 2 factors are important. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Human Development Index (HDI). If GDP does not show steady progress for certain threshold level, HDI is not possible to increase. For GDP growth is depending totally on govt. policies and efficiency, while for HDI development apart from govt. policies individual or public discipline/attitude has to be considered. To develop HDI, own self improvement has measure role. No doubt, crime ratio has increased today in India, but public own greed plays measure role in it. Our law is also not at all sufficient to reduce crime. Someone talks to change law from grass-root or implement some new strict law, pseudo-secularist and so called back-ward leader (for sake of their vote bank only, not real worry to uplift of back-ward or other class) will oppose heavily with argument that our constitution made by Dr. Ambedkar is best. Such attitude is biggest draw back in development.

 

UPA has removed POTA with the argument of misuse of it. All the laws are misused some way or another, so we can't remove it. If POTA would have been there, I doubt recent massive attack in Mumbai could not be materialize. Since, such law restricts heavily local help to terrorists.



thanks

Bipin

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Rakesh Iyer 
  To: bipin 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 9:14 PM
  Subject: Re: [Reader-list] my view on cellular silent day on 30/01/09 by Ranjan Kamath


  Dear Bipin

  Terms like overall development and utmost benefits to all have always been used since 1950 in this very republic. But words can't take the place of facts, and vice versa. Therefore, one has to go by the statistics the given policies state.

  As the statistics point out, Gujarat is massively lagging behind on issues like education, health care and even having more cases of crimes on women and female foeticide. This has already been stated by others. Then what is this very development you and others are talking about, is beyond my comprehension/

  Does development only mean that Tatas come and build Singur, getting a cheap subsidy of Rs. 30,000 crores and that gives so many cars, while people are not even in a position to buy two-wheelers, forget cars? 

  Does development mean development of only the top 10-20% cream of the population, which is rich, and continues to grow richer by the day, while the poor get poorer and poorer?

  Since you have been stressing that Modi has brought development, would you kindly enlighten all of us regarding what is the definition of development, or at least, what constitutes development for a society, in your views. That would certainly be a important point to note. 

  You have said that ports will be developed. This has nothing to do either with development of the lives of fishermen, nor it has anything to do with the interior regions of Gujarat. Then how come all areas will be developed?

  Finally, you have mentioned that BJP and Congress will keep caste factors in mind. And therefore if BJP has won, it would be because of development (that seems to be what you say). I don't say your perception is wrong, it could be right as well. But there is no statistical data you have on your side to prove it. The process which is required for this purpose is as follows:

  1) Suppose take a constituency. Take all those candidates who got at least 1 vote. Find their vote percentages they got, as well as the percentage of people who voted.

  2) Now, go to each and every voter who voted, and ask them whom did they vote for in 2007 elections. Also ask them whom they voted for in 2002 elections. 

  3) Then find out, how many voters have changed sides between the two elections. Also find out those voters who didn't vote in 2002 elections, but voted in 2007 elections, as well as new voters in this state, who voted for the first time in 2007 elections. 

  4) Try to find out the reasons for why these people, as in 3) voted the way they did. Try to find this swing, and also the party in whose favor this went.

  5) Compare it with the results of the same constituency in 2002 and 2007 elections. Find out the votes secured by both the parties. And the swing seen in their votes between the two elections.

  If they are almost equal, or if this swing as measured by you is more than that actually seen in voting patterns in election, it's then and only then that you can say that BJP (or the Congress) won on say a particular issue in a particular constituency.  And this has to be done for each and every constituency in Gujarat.

  Since this is not done, I can't believe that Modi was the master God of the universe and his development was alone able to win him the elections. And if that is what Modi and the BJP believe, I must definitely say that they are living in a fool's paradise, for they may be winning elections now, but if they tomorrow lose, they won't even know why they lost at all. And that is why I think Modi still doesn't know why his party did badly in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. 

  So, if people then say development brought the swing, in a general way, it is a perception and perceptions may not be wrong, but then they may not be right as well. Please put facts for your point. 

  Regards

  Rakesh